Paved surface configured for reducing tire noise and increasing tire traction and method and apparatus of manufacturing same

ABSTRACT

The invention includes a paved surface configured for reducing tire noise and increasing tire traction on the paved surface and to a method and apparatus for manufacturing such a paved surface. The paved surface includes grooves in the traffic bearing surface that are substantially neither transverse nor parallel to the intended direction of traffic.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Continuation Patent Application claims benefit of pending U.S.Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 10/856,670, filed May 28,2004, titled “A PAVED SURFACE CONFIGURED FOR REDUCING TIRE NOISE ANDINCREASING TIRE TRACTION AND METHOD AND APPARATUS OF MANUFACTURINGSAME”, which in turn claims benefit and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/473,528 filed on May 28, 2003, titled “IMPROVED ROAD SURFACE”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to road pavement for vehicles. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a paved surface configured forreducing tire noise and increasing tire traction on the paved surfaceand to a method and apparatus for manufacturing such a paved surface.

2. Description of Related Art

Modern roads manufactured to transport vehicular traffic typically aremade from asphalt or concrete. The use of concrete is generallypreferred for sections of road that see sustained and heavy trafficloads. Stones are typically placed into the asphalt mix to form aninterrupted raised structure having multiple channels for channelingwater from underneath the footprint of a rolling tire. Additionally, thetraffic carrying surface of a section of a concrete road may beintentionally roughened, or patterned, to facilitate displacement ofwater from under vehicle tires during wet conditions, thereby increasingtraction.

A conventional method of creating a suitable rough top surface is toemploy diamond coated saw blades to cut parallel grooves into a smoothlyfinished and cured concrete surface. Such grooves are typically orientedperpendicular (or transverse) to the direction of traffic and aregenerally spaced apart by about 1 inch or less. Alternatively, theparallel grooves may be disposed on concrete road surfaces in agenerally longitudinal direction or parallel to the direction oftraffic.

One problem associated with transversely oriented grooves is theirinteraction with vehicle tires in generating excessive and undesirableroad noise. Residents living near roads having such transversely groovedconcrete surfaces suffer from road noise generated by traffic on theroad. Longitudinally oriented grooves inherently interact with front andrear tires of motorcycles causing an undesired road-imparting steeringto the motorcycle. Thus, a motorcycle rider suffers from havingexcessive monitoring of the motorcycle steering to overcome the“squirrely” feeling induced by the longitudinal grooves.

Thus, it would be highly advantageous to provide a paved surfaceconfigured for reducing tire noise and increasing tire traction on thepaved surface and a method and apparatus for manufacturing such a pavedsurface. It would also be advantageous to avoid the problems associatedwith conventional transverse or longitudinally grooved road surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a paved surface having a longitudinal axis parallel toan intended traffic direction is disclosed. The paved surface mayinclude a planar surface material having a traffic bearing surface and aplurality of grooves in the traffic bearing surface, each groovesubstantially parallel and spaced apart from adjacent grooves, eachgroove beginning at a first side of the paved surface and ending on anopposite side of the paved surface, wherein each groove is not in asubstantially linear transverse orientation relative to the intendedtraffic direction.

An embodiment of a method of forming a traffic bearing surface inpavement is also disclosed. The method may include providing pavingmaterial in a substantially smooth state capable of receiving andmaintaining an imprint and imprinting a plurality of grooves in thepaving material, wherein each groove is substantially parallel andspaced apart from adjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a firstside of the paved surface and ending on an opposite side of the pavedsurface, wherein each groove is not in a substantially linear transverseorientation relative to an intended traffic direction along the trafficbearing surface.

An embodiment of an apparatus for forming a traffic bearing surface inconcrete uncured and capable of accepting and maintaining an imprint isdisclosed. The apparatus may include a trolley supporting a plurality oftines, each tine configured for dragging along the uncured concrete toform a groove. The apparatus may further include a framework forsupporting the trolley and configured for sweeping the trolley andplurality of tines across the uncured concrete to form a plurality ofgrooves, wherein each groove is substantially parallel and spaced apartfrom adjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a first side of thepaved surface and ending on an opposite side of the paved surface,wherein each groove is not in a substantially linear transverseorientation relative to an intended traffic direction along the trafficbearing surface.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments for carrying outthe invention. Like reference numerals refer to like parts in differentviews or embodiments of the present invention in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cross-section of an embodiment of atraffic bearing surface formed on a paved surface in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingparabolic curve pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingsinusoidal curve pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingbi-linear curve pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingarcuate curve pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingmulti-linear curve pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingpreselected angle linear curve pattern according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingcross-hatched pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 900 of forming atraffic bearing surface in pavement according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 1000 for forming atraffic bearing surface in uncured concrete according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cross-section 100 of an embodiment ofa traffic bearing surface 102 formed on a pavement or paved surface (notshown underneath for clarity of viewing) in accordance with the presentinvention. The embodiment of a traffic bearing surface 102 is configuredfor reducing tire noise and increasing tire traction in accordance withthe present invention. The traffic bearing surface 102 may include aplurality of grooves 104 formed in the traffic bearing surface 102. Thecross-section of the grooves 104 is not critical to the invention andmay be configured of any suitable shape, e.g., V, curved V, U, square,rectangular and the like.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a paved surface having alongitudinal axis parallel to an intended traffic direction. The pavedsurface may include a planar surface material having a traffic bearingsurface 102. The planar surface material may be of any suitable pavingmaterial, for example and not by way of limitation, concrete or asphalt.The embodiment of a paved surface may also include a plurality ofgrooves 104 in the traffic bearing surface, each groove substantiallyparallel and spaced apart from adjacent grooves, each groove beginningat a first side of the paved surface and ending on an opposite side ofthe paved surface, wherein each groove is not in a substantially lineartransverse orientation relative to the intended traffic direction.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, each of theplurality of grooves may form a curve in the traffic bearing surface102, for example and not by way of limitation, a parabolic curve, seeFIG. 2, a sinusoidal curve, see FIG. 3, a bi-linear curve, see FIG. 4,an arcuate curve, see FIG. 5, a multi-linear curve, see FIG. 6, apreselected angle linear curve, see FIG. 7, an arbitrary convex curve oran arbitrary concave curve. According to another embodiment of thepresent invention, the plurality of grooves may form a cross-hatchedpattern, see FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of parabolic grooves 204 arranged in aparabolic curve pattern 200 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. The parabolic pattern 200 includes a plurality ofparabolic grooves 204, wherein each parabolic groove 204 issubstantially parallel and spaced apart from adjacent parabolic grooves204. The intended traffic direction 202 is also shown in an arrow inFIG. 2. Of course the intended traffic direction 202 may be in theopposite direction according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. An imaginary line 206 is also shown traversing the width ofthe parabolic curve pattern 200 in the traffic bearing surface ofpavement according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingsinusoidal curve pattern 300 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Each individual sinusoidal groove 304 is substantiallyparallel and spaced apart from adjacent sinusoidal grooves 304. FIG. 3also shows an intended traffic direction 202 (arrow in FIG. 3) shownperpendicular to an imaginary line 206 which is shown traversing thewidth of the sinusoidal curve pattern 300 in the traffic bearing surfaceof pavement according to this embodiment of the present invention.Again, the intended traffic direction 202 may be in the oppositedirection according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingbi-linear curve pattern 400 according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. Each individual bi-linear groove 404 is substantiallyparallel and spaced apart from adjacent bi-linear grooves 404. FIG. 4also shows an intended traffic direction 202 (arrow in FIG. 4) shownperpendicular to an imaginary line 206 which is shown traversing thewidth of the bi-linear curve pattern 400 in the traffic bearing surfaceof pavement according to this embodiment of the present invention. Aswith other illustrated embodiments, the intended traffic direction 202may be in the opposite direction according to still another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingarcuate curve pattern 500 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. Each individual arcuate groove 504 is substantially paralleland spaced apart from adjacent arcuate grooves 504. FIG. 5 also shows anintended traffic direction 202 (arrow in FIG. 5) shown perpendicular toan imaginary line 206 which is shown traversing the width of the arcuatecurve pattern 500 in the traffic bearing surface of pavement accordingto this embodiment of the present invention. As with other illustratedembodiments, the intended traffic direction 202 may be in the oppositedirection according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of grooves arranged in a repeatingmulti-linear curve pattern 600 according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. The multi-linear curve pattern 600 shown in FIG. 6 istri-linear, but any suitable number of linear segments may be linkedtogether of arbitrary lengths according to embodiments of the presentinvention. Each individual multi-linear groove 604 is substantiallyparallel and spaced apart from adjacent multi-linear grooves 604. FIG. 6also shows an intended traffic direction 202 (arrow in FIG. 6) shownperpendicular to an imaginary line 206 which is shown traversing thewidth of the multi-linear curve pattern 600 in the traffic bearingsurface of pavement according to this embodiment of the presentinvention. As with other illustrated embodiments, the intended trafficdirection 202 may be in the opposite direction according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention.

According to other embodiments of a paved surface consistent with thepresent invention, each of the plurality of grooves 104 may furtherbegin and end on an imaginary line 206 traversing the paved surface(shown in dashed line in FIGS. 2-6) in a direction perpendicular to theintended traffic direction 202.

According to yet another embodiment of a paved surface consistent withthe present invention, each of the plurality of grooves 104 may furtherform parallel lines, each parallel line forming a preselected anglerelative to an imaginary transverse line running perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis. Referring to FIG. 7, a repeating preselected anglelinear pattern 700 of linear grooves 704 is shown, consistent with anembodiment of the present invention. The preselected angle, α, measuredfrom an imaginary line 206 traversing the paved surface (shown in dashedline in FIG. 7) may range from about 3° to less than about 75°.

The minimum preselected angle, α, that grooves may be inclined from theimaginary line 206 perpendicular to the intended traffic direction 202may be determined empirically from an number of factors. Two of thesefactors are tire width and groove spacing. For example, with a 0.8 inchgroove spacing (distance between grooves) and a typical truck tire, theminimum preselected angle, α, may be about 3°. For a typical small cartire a minimum preselected angle, α, may be about 6°. The advantage ofintroducing some preselected angle, α, in the grooves relative to apurely transverse set of grooves is that harmonic road noise from theleading edge of the footprint of tires hitting the next groove isreduced, yet still retaining the added traction of grooves versus asmooth surface. The preselected angle, α, may be inherent and variableas measured from a tangent in the curves illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and5.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of linear grooves 804 arranged in arepeating cross-hatched pattern 800 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The cross-hatched pattern 800 shown in FIG. 8 maybe formed or mirrored preselected angle linear patterns 700 according toembodiments of the present invention. Each individual linear groove 804in a given half of a mirrored, preselected angle linear pattern 700 issubstantially parallel and spaced apart from adjacent linear grooves804. FIG. 8 also shows an intended traffic direction 202 (arrow in FIG.8) shown perpendicular to an imaginary line 206 which is showntraversing the width of the cross-hatched pattern 800 in the trafficbearing surface of pavement according to this embodiment of the presentinvention. As with other illustrated embodiments, the intended trafficdirection 202 may be in the opposite direction according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention.

The particular spacing of the grooves in the various embodimentsdescribed above is not critical to the invention. The various embodimentdescribed above may be applied to a variety of paving surface materials,for example and not by way of limitation, concrete, asphalt and anyother suitable paving surface material.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 900 of forming atraffic bearing surface in pavement according to the present invention.Method 900 may include providing 902 paving material in a substantiallysmooth state capable of receiving and maintaining an imprint. Method 900may further include imprinting 904 a plurality of grooves in the pavingmaterial, wherein each groove is substantially parallel and spaced apartfrom adjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a first side of thepaved surface and ending on an opposite side of the paved surface,wherein each groove is not in a substantially linear transverseorientation relative to an intended traffic direction along the trafficbearing surface.

According to another embodiment of method 900, providing 902 pavingmaterial may include pouring concrete to form a substantially planarsurface of uncured concrete. According to yet another embodiment, method900 may further include curing the concrete to form the traffic bearingsurface in the pavement.

According to still another embodiment of method 900, imprinting 904 aplurality of grooves may comprise dragging a plurality of tines acrossthe substantially smooth uncured concrete wherein each tine forms agroove in the traffic bearing surface.

According to another embodiment of method 900, providing 902 pavingmaterial may include providing a substantially planar surface of curedconcrete. According to still another embodiment of method 900,imprinting 904 a plurality of grooves may include cutting each of theplurality of grooves with a diamond tipped saw blade.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 1000 for forming atraffic bearing surface in concrete uncured and capable of accepting andmaintaining an imprint. Apparatus 1000 may include a trolley 1002supporting a plurality of tines 1006, each tine configured for draggingalong the uncured concrete to form a groove 1004. Apparatus 1000 mayfurther include a framework 1008 for supporting the trolley 1002 andconfigured for sweeping the trolley 1002 and plurality of tines 1006across the uncured concrete to form a plurality of grooves 1004, whereineach groove 1004 is substantially parallel and spaced apart fromadjacent grooves 1004, each groove 1004 beginning at a first side 1008of the paved surface 1010 and ending on an opposite side 1012 of thepaved surface 1010, wherein each groove 1004 is not in a substantiallylinear transverse orientation relative to an intended traffic direction202 along the traffic bearing surface. According to additionalembodiments according to the present invention, each of the plurality ofgrooves may form a curve selected from a group consisting of: parabolic,sinusoidal, bi-linear, arcuate multi-linear, preselected angle linear,cross-hatched convex and concave.

The apparatus 1000 described above is merely exemplary and not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention. One skilled in the art andin possession of this disclosure may find many other suitable systemsand machines for manufacturing the paved surfaces disclosed herein. Forexample and not by way of limitation, the principles disclosed hereincould be practiced using a robotic arm, a roller, a sled and by otherapparatuses used for imprinting surfaces.

While the foregoing advantages of the present invention are manifestedin the detailed description and illustrated embodiments of theinvention, a variety of changes can be made to the configuration, designand construction of the invention to achieve those advantages. Hence,reference herein to specific details of the structure and function ofthe present invention is by way of example only and not by way oflimitation.

1. A paved surface having a longitudinal axis parallel to an intendedtraffic direction, comprising: a planar surface material having atraffic bearing surface; a plurality of grooves in the traffic bearingsurface, each groove substantially parallel and spaced apart fromadjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a first side of the pavedsurface and ending on an opposite side of the paved surface, whereineach groove is not in a substantially linear transverse orientationrelative to the intended traffic direction.
 2. The paved surfaceaccording to claim 1, wherein the planar surface material comprisesconcrete.
 3. The paved surface according to claim 1, wherein the planarsurface material comprises asphalt.
 4. The paved surface according toclaim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grooves forms a paraboliccurve.
 5. The paved surface according to claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of grooves forms a sinusoidal curve.
 6. The paved surfaceaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grooves forms abi-linear curve.
 7. The paved surface according to claim 1, wherein eachof the plurality of grooves forms an arcuate curve.
 8. The paved surfaceaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grooves forms amulti-linear curve.
 9. The paved surface according to claim 1, whereineach of the plurality of grooves forms a convex curve.
 10. The pavedsurface according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of groovesforms a concave curve.
 11. The paved surface according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of grooves forms a cross-hatched pattern.
 12. Thepaved surface according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofgrooves begin and end on an imaginary line traversing the paved surfacein a direction perpendicular to the intended traffic direction.
 13. Thepaved surface according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofgrooves form parallel lines, each parallel line forming a preselectedangle relative to an imaginary transverse line running perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis.
 14. The paved surface according to claim 13,wherein the preselected angle falls with a range of angles comprisingfrom about 3° to less than about 75°.
 15. A method of forming a trafficbearing surface in pavement, comprising: providing paving material in asubstantially smooth state capable of receiving and maintaining animprint; and imprinting a plurality of grooves in the paving material,wherein each groove is substantially parallel and spaced apart fromadjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a first side of the pavedsurface and ending on an opposite side of the paved surface, whereineach groove is not in a substantially linear transverse orientationrelative to an intended traffic direction along the traffic bearingsurface.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein providing pavingmaterial comprises pouring concrete to form a substantially planarsurface of uncured concrete.
 17. The method according to claim 16,further comprising curing the concrete to form the traffic bearingsurface in the pavement.
 18. The method according to claim 16, whereinimprinting a plurality of grooves comprises dragging a plurality oftines across the substantially smooth uncured concrete wherein each tineforms a groove in the traffic bearing surface.
 19. The method accordingto claim 15, wherein providing paving material comprises providing asubstantially planar surface of cured concrete.
 20. The method accordingto claim 19, wherein imprinting a plurality of grooves comprises cuttingeach of the plurality of grooves with a diamond tipped saw blade.
 21. Anapparatus for forming a traffic bearing surface in concrete uncured andcapable of accepting and maintaining an imprint, comprising: a trolleysupporting a plurality of tines, each tine configured for dragging alongthe uncured concrete to form a groove; and a framework for supportingthe trolley and configured for sweeping the trolley and plurality oftines across the uncured concrete to form a plurality of grooves,wherein each groove is substantially parallel and spaced apart fromadjacent grooves, each groove beginning at a first side of the pavedsurface and ending on an opposite side of the paved surface, whereineach groove is not in a substantially linear transverse orientationrelative to an intended traffic direction along the traffic bearingsurface.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of theplurality of grooves forms a curve selected from a group consisting of:parabolic, sinusoidal, bi-linear, arcuate, multi-linear, preselectedangle linear, cross-hatched, convex and concave.